Wallet accessory with photograph sleeves and digital playback device

• US 20040211842A1
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry Goldenberg
• Original Assignee: Larry Goldenberg
• Inventors: Barham, Thomas, Goldenberg, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 1/06 Wallets devices for the prevention of theft or loss of wallets A45C13/185; for holding keys A45C11/32; Notecases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/24 Etuis for purposes not covered by a single one of groups A45C11/02 - A45C11/22, A45C11/26, A45C11/32 - A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2001/086 with additional compartments for storing other kinds of objects

Abstract

A wallet accessory includes a plurality of photograph sleeves, a digital playback device, and a device sleeve for the playback device. The device sleeve includes an opening within a face of the sleeve for purpose of permitting sound to enter a microphone of the playback device and permitting sound from a speaker of the playback device to be transmitted out of the device sleeve. The device includes a plurality of playback buttons and a plurality of the photograph sleeves includes respective indicia which associates one of the sleeves with a respective one of the buttons. As such, a photograph of a person in one of the photograph sleeves can be associated with a recorded message by that person which is played back by pressing a corresponding first button on the playback device.

Claims

1. A wallet accessory for a wallet having a pocket, comprising:

a) a first insert sized to be received in the pocket of the wallet to couple said accessory to the wallet;

b) a plurality of transparent sleeves coupled to said insert, said sleeves sized for receiving wallet-size format photographs;

c) a digital playback device having at least one memory capable of storing a plurality of digital files and at least one button adapted to initiate playback of a selected one of said files; and

d) a device sleeve at least partially containing said playback device, said device sleeve coupled to said insert.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said playback device has dimensions generally corresponding to a credit card.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said playback device is sealed within said device sleeve.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said playback device includes a speaker, and said device sleeve includes an opening coincident with said speaker.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said playback device includes recording functionality and a microphone, and said device sleeve includes an opening coincident with said microphone.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said transparent sleeves includes respective indicia thereon which identifies at least one of said plurality of said digital files therewith.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one button of said playback device includes a plurality of playback buttons each having respective indicia associated therewith, and

said plurality of transparent sleeves includes respective indicia thereon, such that said respective indicia on each one of said plurality of sleeves corresponds to said indicia associated with a respective one of the buttons.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

e) a central panel having sides, wherein said first insert, said transparent sleeves, and said device sleeve are coupled to said sides of said central panel.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said central panel is a sleeve including at least one transparent side.

10. A system according to claim 8, further comprising:

f) a second insert sized to be received in a pocket of the wallet to couple said accessory to the wallet, wherein said first insert and said second insert are coupled to different sides of said central panel.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein:

said panel, said first and second insert, said transparent sleeves, and said device sleeve overlie one another.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein:

said device sleeve is coupled to said central panel with a live hinge.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

said live hinge has limited movement.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said transparent sleeves are flexible.

15. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of photographs in said transparent sleeves, each said photograph depicting a different person.

16. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

e) said wallet having said pocket, wherein said insert is received in said pocket.

17. An accessory system for a wallet, comprising:

a) a digital playback device having at least one memory capable of storing a plurality of digital files and at least one button adapted to initiate playback of a selected one of said files;

b) a plurality of transparent sleeves coupled to said playback device, said sleeves sized for receiving wallet-size format photographs; and

c) at least one element adapted to couple said digital playback device and said transparent sleeves to the wallet.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein:

each of said transparent sleeves includes respective indicia thereon which identifies at least one of said plurality of said digital files therewith.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein:

said at least one button includes a plurality of buttons, and each of said buttons is provided with a distinctive indicia associated therewith, and each of said transparent sleeves includes respective indicia thereon, such that said respective indicia on each one of said plurality of transparent sleeves corresponds to said indicia associated with a respective one of the buttons.

20. A system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a device sleeve at least partially containing said playback device, said device sleeve coupled to said transparent sleeves.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein:

said playback device includes a speaker, and said device sleeve includes an opening coincident with said speaker.

22. A system according to claim 17, wherein:

said at least one element is an insert sized to be received in a pocket of the wallet.

23. A system according to claim 17, wherein:

said at least one element is a first element oriented to be longitudinally received in a pocket of the wallet and a second element oriented to be transversely received in a pocket of the wallet.

24. A system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a central panel having sides, wherein said transparent sleeves, and said at least one element are coupled to said sides of said central panel.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein:

said central panel is a sleeve.

26. An accessory system for a wallet, comprising:

a) a central sleeve sized to store a wallet-size format photograph and having a plurality of sides;

b) a plurality of transparent sleeves coupled to one of said sides of said central sleeve, said transparent sleeves sized for receiving wallet-size format photographs; and

c) at least one element adapted to couple said digital playback device and said transparent sleeves to the wallet.

27. An accessory according to claim 26, wherein:

said at least element is a first element oriented to be received in a pocket of the wallet having a lateral opening and a second element oriented to be received in a pocket of the wallet having a vertical opening.

28. An accessory system for a wallet, comprising:

a) a plurality of transparent sleeves coupled to said central sleeve, said transparent sleeves sized for receiving wallet-size format photographs;

b) a first insert coupled to said sleeves and oriented to be received in a pocket of the wallet having a lateral opening for coupling said transparent sleeves to the wallet; and

c) a second insert coupled to said sleeves and oriented to be received in a pocket of the wallet having a vertical opening for coupling said transparent sleeves to the wallet.

29. An accessory system for a wallet, comprising:

a) a plurality of transparent sleeves sized for receiving wallet-size format photographs;

b) at least one element adapted to couple said transparent sleeves to the wallet;

c) a digital playback device having at least one memory capable of storing a plurality of digital files and a at least one button adapted to initiate playback of a selected one of said files; and

d) a plurality of user-appliable indicia for said transparent sleeves,

wherein when photographs are provided in said transparent sleeves and said indicia are applied to said transparent sleeves, said indicia identify each of said digital files with the photograph in said transparent sleeves.